Sewer-cleaning apparatus.



\ PATENTED'AUG. 13, 1907. J. F. KUHLMAN.

SEWER CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

ITNESSES V ix/W 4% @MMYW No. 863,073. PATENTED AUG. 13, 1 907. J. F. KUHLMAN. SEWER CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24,1906.

2 SHEBTS-SHEBT 2.

i8 i8 i- JOHN F. KUHLMAN, OF HAMMOND, INDIANA.

SEWER-CLEANING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed March 24, 1906. Serial No. 307,801.

To all whom it may concern; 7

Be it known that I, JOHN F. KUHLMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hammond, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Sewer-Cleaning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a sewer cleaning apparatus, and has for its objects, to provide a sewer cleaner or scraper having improved means for guiding the scraper as it is being drawn through the sewer; to provide a scraper of maximum strength and improved scraping qualities; to provide an apparatus for handling the scraper, whereby the scraper may be dragged through the sewer, raised through the manhole and dumped Without difiiculty; to provide a handling apparatus which may be easily and securely anchored in place accomplished by one direct and uninterrupted pull on the scraper rope. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a transverse section through the sewer manhole, and shows in side elevation the scraper I handling apparatus, the position of dumping of the and shows in side elevation another form of anchor-- ing-means for the top and bottom of the trolley beam, and

Figure 7 is a plan view of the upper and lower anchoring means shown in Figure 6.

The device belongs to' that type of apparatus in which a scraper or cleaner isinserted at one manhole and drawn through the length of the sewer by;means of a chain or rope passing through the manhole and sccuredto some sort of hauling means. A rope is'commonly attached 'to each end of the scraper so that after the scraper has been pulled: out of the .manhole and dumped it can be returned through the same manhole and brought back to the starting point. Only that part of the sewer adjacent to the manhole is shown, and there is no illustration of'the hauling. means,. but it will be understood that this may be of any improved form, and it is-thought that the sectional views shown will make clear the invention.

One of the improvements which constitute an important feature of my invention is the scraper shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings. As here shown,

hinged at its upper edge and is adapted to be closed by l the chain 11 secured to the hauling rope 12. After the door is closed the strain of hauling the scraper is taken by the short chains 13 which are also secured to the hauling rope 12 at one end and to the side ribs 9 at the other end. In order to properly guide the scraper through the sewer and hold it down'near the bottom in case the sewer is partly filled, the guiding handle 14 As more clearly indicated in is provided. This handle is adapted to contact with the top of the sewer and press the scraper downwardly. This handle 14 also serves as a convenient means for grasping the scraper after it has been removed from the manhole. The ribs 9 above referred to not only serve the purposes of stiffening the body of the scraper, thereby permitting the use of thinner metal in the body, but also constitute renewable wearing surfaces which can be replaced from time to time. The ribs also form an effective scraping means, as the whole weight is borne on a comparatively small area,and the ends thereof dig into the dirt of the sewer and loosen it up. In order to prevent the ends of the ribs from catching in the crevices in the bottom of the sewer the ends are very slightly turned up, as indicated at 15 in Figure 1.

Another important part of my invention resides in the means whereby my improved scraper maybe handled and removed from the manhole for dumping,

without difficulty. This handling mechanism includes the trolley beam 16 pivotally anchored at thebottom of the sewer, and rigidly anchored at the top of the manhole, whereby a means is provided for drawing thescraper out of the manhole. .The trolley beam is, as indicated, made in sections for convenience in handling, and is securely anchored at the bottom of the sewer by means of the member 17 prov Med with a holding surface which in the present instance is provided with projecting points 18 and an upper member. 19 adapted to fit against the top of the sewer. Means is provided whereby the parts 18 and 19 can be spread apart against the sewer. This means consist. of the screw 20 working in the socket 21 in the top member and fitting into a nut. 22 in the bottom member. It will be apparent that by this construction the bottom of the trolley beam may be secured in the sewer at one side of the manhole. My preferred means for anchoring the top of the trolley beam in the manhole is shown in Figures 1 and'2. As so shown the holding band consists of two hinged members 23 secured to a third member 24 by means of the pivoted bolts 25 provided with the nuts 26. By means of this construction the band may be expanded to fit any manhole and constitutes a holding means for the trolley beam. The band is secured to the trolley beam by means of clips 27, which clips fit over the trolley beam and holdit securely in place. The trolley beam is inthe present instance an I-beam, but it will be apparent that any flanged beam or a track which is not flanged might be used for supporting and carrying the part 28 which for convenience is referred to as a trolley. This trolley is provided with a rope guide in the form of, a pulley 29 and carries two pulleys for holding the trolley to the beam, the inside one of which is numbered 30 and the outside one 31. The beam isprovided at its bottom with the curved offset 32, the purpose of which will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and at its top with the section 33 curved toward the horizontal and slightly slanting downward at the end 3 4: The end 34 is provided with thepulley 35 carrying the rope 12 and also the chain 36 provided with'a hook 37 for grasping the scraper when it reachesthe end. of the beam. The hauling rope 12 is secured to any suitable operating mechanism, and not only serves to drag the scraper through the sewer, but also raises it at the top of the manhole, in position for dumping. The object of the outcurved offset 32 is to prevent the trolley from rising when the pull is put upon the rope during the dragging of the scraper through the sewer. The trolley retains its position in the offset 32 until the cleaner or scraper is drawn against it, at which time the upward pull on .the rope will of course carry the scraper and trolley past the offset 32.

The operation is as follows: Assuming that the scraper is empty, a rope 39 from a neighboring manhole is attached to the lid 10 and the scraper lowered into the manhole. On the application 01' power to the rope 39 the lid 9 is openedand the scraper dragged back a distance into the sewer thereby loosening the dirt. Power is applied to the rope 12 dragging it through the pulleys 35 and 29 and through the chain 11 closing the swinging door 10 of the scraper, and then dragging such scraper through'the lengthof the sewer to the manhole. When the scraper reaches the trolley 28 and the ring on the end of the rope and the chains 13 engage the pulley 19, theupward pull on the rope will dislodge the trolley from the offset portion 32 and carrying it longitudinally up the beam 16. The still further travel of the rope carries the scraper over the curved portion 33 and to the pulley 35. At this point as indicated in dotted lines, the hook 37 is inserted in the loop 38 at the end of the scraper, and upon loosening the rope 12 the door 10 is allowed to swing open thereby discharging the contents of the scraper. It will be apparent that in carrying out this operation there is one continuous pull on the rope 12, and that no stoppage need occur between the time at which the scraper starts in at the other manhole and the time and point at which it is dumped. This is of great advantage for the reason that no delays occur as in other apparatus for changing the rope at the point at which it is desired to lift the scraper outrof the sewer. The downward inclination of the end of the part 33 causes the scraper to move to that end point by gravity and stay firmly at such point after releasing the tension on the rope; After dumping, the scraper is drawn back through the manhole to its tstarting point by means of the rope 39 attached to the door in the usual way. By making the trolley beam sectional it is possible to use the parts 32 and 33 for all depths of manhole, the only change necessary being in the detachable straight section at the center.

Figure 5 shows a modification of the bottom of the trolley beam, which modification" is used where the sewer manhole is drawnin at the bottom instead of the top. In such cases it is desirable to have the foot of the trolley beam as near the edge of the manhole as possible in order-to provide room for the scraper to pass through to the top, and in order to accomplish this result bend 40 is provided. In all other respects the operation of the device is similar to the one previously described.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate an alternative means for v anchoring the trolley beam both at the bottom and at the top. The manhole securing means at the bottom consist of the portion 41 detachably secured to the beam, and the adjustable arms 42 provided with feet- 43 engaging the walls of the manhole. *It will be seen that by adjusting the length of the arms 42 the'anchoring-means may be made to fit any sized manhole, and will securely hold the trolley beam longitudinally of the sewer. The upper anchoring means consists preferably of the parts 44 and 45 secured slidably to the edge of the trolley beam, and is adapted to engage the metal top of the manhole on the front and back sides. The two parts are clamped together by means of the bolts 46 provided with the nut 47. This form of top anchoring means constitute an advantageous one in cases where the cast iron top of the manhole is above the level of the street or can be easily exposed by taking out a block. 1 It will be apparent that my invention is capable 0 many modifications without departing from thespirit thereof. A great variety of top and bottom anchoring means might be provided instead of the form shown,

and some other section for the trolley beam might be used. Some other beam engaging means than a wheeled trolley might be used, as for instance, a sliding trolley without wheels. It will also be seen that my invention is not restricted to the useof a curved offset to prevent the trolley rising before the scraper reaches the end, as it will be obvious that a block or lug over which the trolley would have to ride before ascending, would perform the function, or a positive locking means for the trolley might be used at the bottom of the beam, and be arranged for unlocking by the approach: ing scraper. My invention in this regard comprehends all means for holding the trolley at the bottom of the beam until the scraper or some moving part attached to the scraper engages the trolley. Furthermore it will be apparent that the part 33 might be considerably modifiedjoi entirely doneaway with without involving a departure from the fundamental idea involved in my in-. vention.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. In comblnatlom'a sewer scraper curved on its lower side to lit the shape of the sewer and provided on its top with aim-upstanding handle adapted to contact with the top of the sewer and direct the scraper.

seaorzs 2. In combination, a sewer scraper curved on its lower side to fit the shape of the sewer and provided on its top with a curved upstanding handle adapted to contact with the top of the sewer and direct the scraper.

3. In combination in sewer cleaning apparatus, a trol ley beam, means for securing it against movement Iongituv dinally of the sewer and holding it upright in the sewer.

manhole, a-trolley therefor, a scraper, flexible means sec'ured to the scraper and passing through the trolley and manhole for operating the scraper, and means on the beam whereby the trolley is prevented from rising on the trolley beam until the scraper reaches the trolley.

' 4. In combination in sewer cleaning apparatus, a trol ley beam provided at its lower end with an outcurved portion, means for anchoring the beam in the manhole. and a trolley on the beam through which flexible hauling means for a scraper is adapted to pass. 5. In combination in sewer cleaning apparatus, a trolley beam provided at its lower end with an outcurved portion, means for anchoring .the beam in the manhole,

and a trolley on the beam provided with a pulley for flexiblc hauling means for a scraper. 7

6. In combination in sewer cleaning apparatus, a trolley beam provided at its lower end with an outcurved portion and at the top with a portion curved toward the horizontal, means for anchoring the beam in the manhole, a pulley at the upper end of the beam, and a trolley on the beam provided with a pulley,

7. In combination in sewer cleaning apparatus, a trolley beam provided at its lower end with a curved ofiset. means for anchoring the foot of the beam in the sewer, means for securing the beam at the top of the manhole, a trolley provided with a guide for flexible hauling means, and another guide for the flexible hauling means located near the top of the manhole.

8. In combination in sewer cleaning apparatus, a trolley beam, means for anchoring the top of the beam in the manhole and means for anchoring the bottom in the sewer, comprising a block adapted to grip the bottom of the sewer, an opposing block adapted to grip the top of the sewer and interposed means for separating the blocks.

" 9. In combination in sewer-cleaning apparatus, a trolley beam, means for anchoring the top of the beam in the manhole and means for anchoring the bottom in the sewer, comprising a block pivoted to the beam and adapted to grip the bottom of the sewer, an opposing block adapted to grip the top of the sewer and interposed means for separating the blocksl 10. In combination in sewer cleaning apparatus, a trolley beam, means for anchoring the top of the beam in the manhole and means for anchoring the bottom in the sewer, comprising a block adapted to grip the bottom of the sewer, an opposing block adapted'to grip the top of the sewer, and an interposed screw for separating the blocks.

11. In combination in sewer cleaning apparatus, a trolley beam, means for anchoring the bottom of the beam in the sewer and means for anchoring the top of the beam in the manhole comprising an expansible ring.

12. In combination in sewer cleaning apparatus, a trol ley beam, means, for anchoring the bottom of the beam in the sewer and means for anchoring the top of the beam in the manhole comprising an expansible ring provided with screw bolt expanding'means- 13. In combination in sewer cleaning apparatus, a trolley beam, means for anchoring the bottom of the beam in the sewer and means for anchoring the top of the beam in the manhole comprising an expansible ring provided with lugs for detachably engaging the beam. 7

14. In combination in sewer cleaning apparatus, a trolley beam provided at its lower end with an outcurved portion and at the top with a portion curved laterally and inclining downward slightly at the end, means for anchoring the beam in the manhole, a pulley at the upper end of the beam, and a trolley on the beam provided with a pulley;

' In testimony whereof I have. hereunto signed my name in the presence of the two subscribed witnesses.

JOHN F. KUIILMAN.

Witnesses:

JANE CARPENTER, Annnn'r GRANT MILLER. 

